Using a balanced offensive and defensive effort, Notre Dame picked up its first win of the 2012 season Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Saint Louis on the campus of the University of Nebraska. Toni Alugbue (11 kills) and Jeni Houser (10 kills) paced the Irish. Junior tri-captain Andrea McHugh offered eight kills, nine digs and two service aces. Sammie Brown led the team in assists for the second day in a row with 16.

There is a chance Saturday for Notre Dame to do something unprecedented in its storied football history. If the Irish can defeat the University of Southern California Trojans in a prime-time matchup, Notre Dame will play in its first-ever Bowl Championship Series title game. Notre Dame was last named national champion in 1988, a decade before the inception of the BCS. It was during that championship season 24 years ago that No. 1 Notre Dame faced No. 2 USC in the season finale at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Paying attention to detail and scouting the opposition helped former Notre Dame baseball coach Pat Murphy reach the coveted 500-victory mark faster than any other college baseball coach. What never happened on the field to Murphy happened off of it during his return to Notre Dame's campus on Saturday. He was caught off guard when Notre Dame unveiled its newly renovated clubhouse, which it named for Murphy. "I'm so surprised at how stupid I was not to know that more was up than throwing out the first pitch," said Murphy, who thought he was coming back for a reunion of former Fighting Irish coaches.

Notre Dame has found its second running back of the 2012 recruiting class in KeiVarae Russell. Russell, from Everett, Wash., announced his verbal commitment to the Irish Thursday afternoon from Mariner High School, choosing Notre Dame over the home state Washington Huskies. The Seattle Times confirmed the decision which came just hours before the Irish were set to kick off in Orlando for the Champs Sports Bowl. When Russell announced his decision, the lights in the gymnasium went out and the Notre Dame fight song starting playing.

Notre Dame senior attackman Sean Rogers has been named the Big East offensive player of the week. Rogers tallied a game-high four points on three goals and one assist in Saturday's 10-7 win at Villanova. All three of Rogers' goals occurred during Notre Dame's 8-0 run after the Irish trailed 4-0.

Affirmation that his game has been really good finally arrived from a most unlikely source for Notre Dame guard Eric Atkins. Set this fall to begin his third season as a team captain and fourth as a main guy, Atkins never before earned any all-conference honor. Not after he led the Big East in assist-turnover ratio (2.8) as a true freshman on an Irish team that won 27 games and tied the school record with 14 league victories. Not after he helped steer the Irish to a third-place league finish as a sophomore.

SOUTH BEND -- Notre Dame law professor Richard Garnett will speak on the topic "Why Religious Freedom Matters" at 7 p.m. July 3 at Saint Matthew Cathedral, 1701 Miami St., South Bend. The event is free and open to the public and is part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' "Fortnight for Freedom," June 21-July 4, a period of prayer, sacrifice and education for the cause of religious liberty. For more information call Tom Uebbing at 574-299-0537.

SOUTH BEND -- The Morris Inn is not only adding space, it's doubling its staff. The 60-year-old hotel and restaurant closed in October for extensive renovation and expansion. Before it reopens in August, the university needs to hire about 60 new people. So, next week, the university will hold two job fairs to interview prospective candidates. But that number represents just half of the inn's staff. Many of the 120 positions at the inn have been filled by its former employees, all of whom were offered other positions at the university during renovations.

In the summer of 1913, Notre Dame football players Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais spent their spare time on the Cedar Point Beach in Sandusky, Ohio, perfecting the forward pass -- a legal, but risky and seldom-used play. That season, the pair unleashed their passing game on an unsuspecting Army team. The Irish rolled to a 35-13 victory -- a startling performance that catapulted Notre Dame into national prominence and changed the sport forever. Next Friday members of the Rockne and Dorais families are headed to back to Cedar Point Beach to recreate the memories of this historic development for the game of football.

Jerry Tillery's long drive to South Bend ended Thursday night at Notre Dame Stadium. Following 12 straight hours in the car, a memorable visit to Notre Dame commenced. Two days later, Tillery left campus as the first football recruit verbally committed to Notre Dame's 2015 class. He shared his commitment publicly Saturday afternoon on Twitter. “I am committed to the University of Notre Dame. #GoIrish,” he tweeted. The 6-foot-7, 312-pound offensive lineman from Shreveport, La., started his visit with dinner in Notre Dame Stadium's press box with Irish players and coaches.

Notre Dame senior nose guard Louis Nix was named Preseason All-America by Beyond Sports Network. Teammate Stephon Tuitt, a junior defensive end, was named to the second team. Also of note, Michigan senior offensive tackle Taylor Lewan was named first team, while Michigan State senior linebacker Max Bullough and senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard were both second-team selections. BSN named teams for every level of college football, including Division III, where Trine University senior kicker Tyler Keck was named to the second team.

Tyler Newsome didn't start taking punting seriously until November of last year. Seven months later, the focus has paid off. On Thursday, the 2014 prospect participated in a punting and kicking camp at Notre Dame coordinated by national kicking coach Jamie Kohl. By lunch time, he was kicking solo in front of Brian Kelly. Later the Irish head coach extended an offer, and in less than 24 hours Newsome verbally committed to the program. "My first thought was, 'You're not going to get an education and be able to play football anywhere else in the country like you would be able to here," Newsome said.

SOUTH BEND -- Notre Dame fans already can dress themselves from head to toe in Fighting Irish gear. Soon they'll be able to spritz on one of the school's official scents as well. The Cloudbreak Group, which has developed New York Yankees fragrances, is working with Steiner Collectibles to develop a line of fragrances for Notre Dame, according to Michael Low, the university's director of licensing. ND Gold Eau De Toilette, designed for men, and Lady Irish Eau De Parfum will be available this fall, Low said, adding that 3.4-ounce bottles are expected to retail for $62. He said other fragranced products include women's shower gel and body lotion, men's hair and body wash, aftershave balm, hand sanitizer and lip balm.

Notre Dame senior power forward Tom Knight will be part of a college all-star team that will compete next month in the Four Nations Cup in Tallinn, Estonia. Training camp for the East Coast All-Stars, organized annually by Lycoming (Pa.) College coach Bill Rancourt, will be July 20-21 in New York City. The team will play four games July 22-28 in Estonia. Knight recently underwent offseason surgery for a sports hernia. In his first full season in the Irish rotation in 2012-13, Knight averaged career highs for points (5.5)

Jerry Tillery doesn't have to hide his Notre Dame fandom. The 2015 offensive lineman prospect has always been a fan of the Catholic university. So when offensive line coach Harry Hiestand extended an offer in early June, Tillery could have tried to commit on the spot. But the 6-foot-7, 312-pound offensive tackle showed restraint. The Shreveport, La., prospect has decided to separate his rooting interest from his recruiting process. "I'm giving each school a fair shake because I want to vet every opportunity that I have to make the right decisions," Tillery said.